MP Praises Digital Minister for Cracking Down on Content Deemed to Spread Hate Speech

Jakarta – A member of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR), Nurul Arifin, has praised the steps taken by the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) in addressing the controversy surrounding a video statement by Amien Rais, which is deemed to contain elements of defamation and hate speech.

According to Nurul, Komdigi’s decision to issue a takedown order for the content without immediately pursuing legal action is an appropriate and proportionate measure to keep the digital space healthy.

“Komdigi’s actions are already correct, namely carrying out administrative enforcement in accordance with its authority. This is important to keep our digital public space conducive without having to resort to immediate criminalisation,” Nurul stated in his remarks on Monday, 4 May 2026.

He also assessed that the decision taken by the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, reflects a balanced approach between enforcing rules and preserving the democratic climate.

Furthermore, Nurul reminded that freedom of expression in a democratic system must be accompanied by responsibility, especially for public figures who have significant influence on public opinion.

“Freedom of expression is indeed guaranteed, but every statement, especially those that are personal and sensitive, must be accountable. It should not develop into defamation that harms others,” he stressed.

He emphasised that political statements should focus on the substance of policies and public interests, not on personal issues unsupported by clear evidence.

“Our political discourse must be healthy and data-based. If not, what happens is a degradation in the quality of democracy because the public space is filled with unverifiable narratives,” Nurul continued.

In this context, Nurul also called on all parties, both politicians and the public, to be wiser in conveying and disseminating information in the digital space.

“We all have a responsibility to maintain the quality of democracy. Do not let the freedom we have be misused to spread information that may not be true,” he concluded.